This is another of my LGB Toytrain wagon conversions, in this case the Toytrain high sided open wagon into a tarpauline wagon.
This is the starting point. The wagon comes in a variety of colours and toy liveries. The illustrations start out as the red Soda Express, but that was actually used for a different conversion. As can be seen the actual subject for this conversion was a yellow version.
The first task is to completely dismantle the model. The balcony rail and brake stand can be cofined to the spares box. The balcony planking then has to be CAREFULLY sawn off and the area cleaned up.
The next part to attack with the saw is the body as it needs to be extended. I start by carving off any bits of extraneous moulding and, after rubbing flat, I rescribe the planking. The body is then sawn through. In this photograph the cut in the wagon sides was somewhat random, as being destined for atnother model, the whole side was to be cut out.
For this conversion, as can be seen in the `yellow` photograph, the saw cuts need to be very precise. The floor and sides are now extended by the insertion of plasticard which is then scribed to match the planking and woodgrain. An extra lenghth of upright strapping is required because of the extended length. This was a piece plasticard channel. You will note that on the original the vertical strapping alternates between channel and plain. I add thin strips of plasticard strip to the sides of the plain strapping to create a uniform appearance. The handrail holes in the balcony end are filled in. The tarpaulin rail brackets and lamp irons are GRS items. The rail is a length of bent wire coat hanger. The tie down cleats for the tarpaulin, are squares of plasticard with brass wire inserted. The axle guards are bent and filed brass strip.
The frame is finished off with a hand brake lever from plasticard strip and the wheels are replaced with AL Kramer solid brass jobs, super heavy for low down centre of gravity.
A paint job and lettering complete the job.
I hope that you agree that the conversion makes a nice, and in this case probabley unique (so far) model out of a `toy`. I have more conversions in hand if anyone is interested.
David
This is the starting point. The wagon comes in a variety of colours and toy liveries. The illustrations start out as the red Soda Express, but that was actually used for a different conversion. As can be seen the actual subject for this conversion was a yellow version.
The first task is to completely dismantle the model. The balcony rail and brake stand can be cofined to the spares box. The balcony planking then has to be CAREFULLY sawn off and the area cleaned up.
The next part to attack with the saw is the body as it needs to be extended. I start by carving off any bits of extraneous moulding and, after rubbing flat, I rescribe the planking. The body is then sawn through. In this photograph the cut in the wagon sides was somewhat random, as being destined for atnother model, the whole side was to be cut out.
For this conversion, as can be seen in the `yellow` photograph, the saw cuts need to be very precise. The floor and sides are now extended by the insertion of plasticard which is then scribed to match the planking and woodgrain. An extra lenghth of upright strapping is required because of the extended length. This was a piece plasticard channel. You will note that on the original the vertical strapping alternates between channel and plain. I add thin strips of plasticard strip to the sides of the plain strapping to create a uniform appearance. The handrail holes in the balcony end are filled in. The tarpaulin rail brackets and lamp irons are GRS items. The rail is a length of bent wire coat hanger. The tie down cleats for the tarpaulin, are squares of plasticard with brass wire inserted. The axle guards are bent and filed brass strip.
The frame is finished off with a hand brake lever from plasticard strip and the wheels are replaced with AL Kramer solid brass jobs, super heavy for low down centre of gravity.
A paint job and lettering complete the job.
I hope that you agree that the conversion makes a nice, and in this case probabley unique (so far) model out of a `toy`. I have more conversions in hand if anyone is interested.
David
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